1990 Toyota FJ-62 Land Cruiser Lift - Four Wheeler Magazine

1990 Toyota Fj62 Land Cruiser Lift Front View

In many unpaved regions of the world, Toyota Land Cruisers remain unarguably the vehicle of choice. Overseas, Land Cruisers have served as the standard platform for national police forces, forestry and utility agencies, and as farm implements for ranchers. Stateside, however, Land Cruisers are driven more on pavement than anywhere else. With the exclusion of a few well-known Land Cruiser-specific associations and clubs, these venerable trail machines spend the majority of their service life meandering through the paved confines of suburbia. That's why we decided to identify one popular version of the Land Cruiser, in this case the FJ-62, and showcase a few products that help emphasize the vehicle's pavement performance while improving trailability at the same time.

If there's one place where Land Cruisers spend more time in four-wheel drive than anywhere else, it's Australia, so it's no wonder that Australia-based companies develop some of the best aftermarket parts and accessories for Land Cruisers. Old Man Emu of Australia is well-known for its replacement leaf springs, suspension lifts, shocks, and steering stabilizers for Toyotas and other four-wheel drives. OME's philosophy is quality and sensibility without complications. As such, OME sizes its lift kits so that there are no problems with, or modifications required to, the steering, braking, or drivetrain.

We decided to test out one of OME's kits on a '90 FJ-62. Besides installing better leaf springs and shocks, we decided to correct the unnatural forward-moving front spring setup with a shackle reversal from Toyota specialists Man-A-Fre. Once we spoke with the experts about the products we wanted to fit on our donor vehicle, we decided a bigger tire would fit and (ideally) balance out the vehicle's boxy proportions.

1. This is everything we ordered for the suspension remodel on our FJ-62. Notice the longer front and rear shackles-these were necessary to fit 35-inch tires. Also included were a pair of U-bolt flip kits from Man-A-Fre.
1. This is everything we ordered for the suspension remodel on our FJ-62. Notice the longe
2. This is the factory front spring setup. The problem with this type of shackle arrangement is that it requires the axle to move forward as the suspension cycles. In turn, the front wheels are driven forward towards the obstacle they are trying to clear. This movement is very unnatural to the forward movement of the vehicle.
2. This is the factory front spring setup. The problem with this type of shackle arrangeme
3. The spring setup with the shackle reversal in place. With the front of the spring stationary, the suspension cycles more smoothly and results in a more controlled ride.
3. The spring setup with the shackle reversal in place. With the front of the spring stati

4. Above is the stock OE front leaf-pack. Notice how the Old Man Emu packs have a flattened area in the middle where the axle seat and U-bolts are tightened. Referred to as a flat spring seat, this design helps to prevent spring sag.
4. Above is the stock OE front leaf-pack. Notice how the Old Man Emu packs have a flattene
5. Here you can see the difference between the OME rear spring packs and the factory units. Check out the locations of each leaf tip-the stock packs are comprised of much less material, making them prone to failure.
5. Here you can see the difference between the OME rear spring packs and the factory units
6. Another trick component from Man-A-Fre is these U-bolt flip kits, which relocate the lowest factory point under the truck (the U-bolt nuts) on top of the axle and out of the way. They also feature front and rear ramps to help prevent hang-ups while on the trail. We recommend these to anyone planning to take a Cruiser off-pavement.
6. Another trick component from Man-A-Fre is these U-bolt flip kits, which relocate the lo

To improve streetability, we thought it might be good to switch from a mud-terrain tire to an all-terrain. We took our tire guru Jimmy Nylund's advice and tried a set of 35-inch Toyo Open Country ATs. These larger meats would improve the approach and departure angles while providing valuable additional ground clearance. These particular tires run quietly on pavement and provide excellent traction when conditions get slick.

A bigger tire begs for a larger wheel diameter so we opted to step up from the stock 15-inch rims to a 17-inch American Racing Mojave wheel with the nonstick black Teflon coating. Aside from a 1-inch spacer needed to correct backspacing, our owner was completely happy with the look of this tire and wheel package. The only weakness was gearing. With a larger tire, the Cruiser's stock 4.11:1s wouldn't cut it, so we ordered up a set of 4.56:1s from Precision Gear. Also, while we had the third members out, we thought we might as well throw in a limited-slip for the rear axle. We went with an Auburn limited-slip because it's nearly transparent on the street, and offers decent traction when conditions merit a posi.

The results? With the stock suspension in place and the vehicle riding on 32-inch rubber, ground clearance under each axle was no more than 9 inches at the lowest point. The SUV scored a whopping 471 on our 20-degree RTI ramp. Once our installs were completed, ground clearance had improved by 3.5 inches, and the SUV scored a more respectable 511 RTI. The good folks at Arabia's Automotive in Campbell, California, performed the trick installations.

7. Longer stainless-steel braided brake lines front and rear were also needed to ensure that increased suspension movement wouldn't stretch out the existing plumbing. These also came in a kit from Man-A-Fre.
7. Longer stainless-steel braided brake lines front and rear were also needed to ensure th
8. These super heavy-duty greasable anti-inversion shackles were necessary to ensure proper ride height for the rear of the vehicle. These units from Man-A-Fre are very stout and undoubtedly increase bushing life.
8. These super heavy-duty greasable anti-inversion shackles were necessary to ensure prope
9. Reider Racing supplied us with a pair of Precision 4.56:1 gears and install kits for each third member to ensure all worn items were replaced.
9. Reider Racing supplied us with a pair of Precision 4.56:1 gears and install kits for ea

10. West Coast Differentials supplied one Auburn limited-slip differential for the rear axle. If driven daily, it's suggested that the gear lube be changed every 20,000 miles along with the necessary friction additive. Regular fluid changes should provide years of trouble-free operation.
10. West Coast Differentials supplied one Auburn limited-slip differential for the rear ax
11. Another worthwhile investment is this OME steering stabilizer. It's always necessary to use a better-than-stock steering stabilizer when increasing tire diameter. A noticeable reduction in steering wander is the result.
11. Another worthwhile investment is this OME steering stabilizer. It's always necessary t
12. The secret to the Toyo Open Country's excellent performance is the abundance and zigzag design of the sipes. We were impressed with the smooth, quiet road feel provided by these square-shouldered tread blocks. Once installed, we found two spots on each inner fenderwell that required minor trimming to allow friction-free stuffing. A thin layer of Teflon like the one American Racing applies to its Mojave wheels prevents mud, brake dust, and road grime from spoiling their lustrous appearance. We're pretty sure the stuff works because it makes the wheels feel slicker than snot. We picked the black versions because they provided some much-needed anti-bling for our Cruiser's over-chromed street habitat.
12. The secret to the Toyo Open Country's excellent performance is the abundance and zigza

SOURCES
American Racing Wheels 19067 Reyes Ave. S. Rancho Dominguez CA 90221 310-635-7806	Reider Racing Enterprises Taylor MI www.reiderracing.com
Arabia's Automotive www.arabiasautomotive.com	Toyo Tires 6261 Katella Avenue, Suite 2B Cypress CA 90630 8-00/-678-3250 www.toyo.com
Man-A-Fre	West Coast Differentials www.differentials.com